Malaysia intends to proceed with RTS - Mahathir

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir today confirmed that Putrajaya intends to proceed with the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) project.

This comes after months of delay in making a decision and Mahathir’s previous idea of reviving the "crooked bridge" project.

“We will proceed with the RTS but we will take some time,” he said briefly when asked during a press conference today.

Pressed if this meant the government had resolved a land dispute involving a plot in Bukit Chagar, Johor owned by the state’s ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Mahathir declined to provide a firm answer.

“That is something which will be announced later,” he said, chuckling.

The sultan previously offered the land to the government for the project at no cost.

Putrajaya was supposed to communicate their decision on the RTS to the Singapore government at the end of September but have since extended the deadline to Oct 31.

Back in May, Singapore agreed to defer the project but required Malaysia to pay RM2 million in abortive costs.

At the time, Transport Ministry Anthony Loke said the delay would allow some time to consider other “affordable and sustainable” alternatives to address serious traffic congestion at the border.

The 4km RTS train line was planned to link up the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru to the Woodlands North Station in Singapore via a 25m-high bridge across the Straits of Johor.

Loke previously estimated the train line to cost RM4 billion.  - Mkini